The Gruffalo

This show has now closed, click here for a listing of current and future London shows

Opened 23 November 2011 - closed 15 January 2012 at the Lyric Theatre in London

"A Gruffalo? What is a Gruffalo?"....
"A Gruffalo. Why don't you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws."

Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep, dark wood in search for hazlenuts in this magical, musical adaptation of the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

"Children love this big scary monster of a show" The Independent

Upon meeting a singing and dancing fox, a mustachioed Mexican snake and various other potential predators, rather than being eaten by them, the Mouse scares them away with tall stories of an imaginary monster friend - but what happens when he comes face to face with the very creature he imagined?... The Gruffalo in London promises songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged three years and upwards and their adults! The perfect holiday treat!

"A spirited and imaginative play" The Guardian

"Thankfully, children's theatre is not confined to the Christmas season, and this West End theatre is enterprisingly putting on performances of a revival of the Tall Stories theatre company's adaptation of the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture book. Roundly aimed at children aged five or under, this offers an excellent introduction to theatrical conventions such as song and dance, mime and audience participation, while also encouraging them to listen and stay in their seats... The young ones I spoke to were entirely satisfied." The Sunday Times

"A theatrical treat for the under-nines" The Sunday Express

"The Gruffalo, to those of you who don't know Julia Donaldson's tale word-perfectly, is a short, nicely rhyming story beloved of tenny-weenies, amusingly stretched with song and dance into an enchanting introduction to theatre... The moral of the story is that tiny creatures can get the better of their biggers, given guts and imagination. It's an important lesson vividly illustrated." The Mail on Sunday

"Tall Stories have transformed a well-loved story into an exuberant, funny show" Time Out

"A funny and endearing adaptation by Tall Stories [who have] turned this simple, but clever tale into a 50-minute play with a mixture of catchy songs, slick choregraphy and good jokes... Of course, even 50 minutes can be too long in a dark theatre for some children - but The Gruffalo miraculously succeeds in finishing while they still want more." The Sunday Telegraph

Tall Stories' production of The Gruffalo in London was seen at the Criterion Theatre from 19 July 2005 to 21 August 2005, returned from 12 December 2006 to 7 January 2007 at the Arts Theatre, returned from 26 November 2008 to 11 January 2009 at the Duchess Theatre, returned from 25 November 2009 to 10 January 2010 at the Apollo Theatre, returned from 24 November 2010 to 16 January 2011 at the Garrick Theatre. The Gruffalo is based on the children's book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, adapted for the stage Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell with music and lyrics by Jon Fiber, Olivia Jacobs, Robin Price and Andy Shaw. It is directed by Olivia Jacobs with designs by Isla Shaw and lighting by James Whiteside.

The Gruffalo in London at the Lyric Theatre from 23 November 2011 to 15 January 2012.